Anna Rosiak of Milton, Ontario had never owned a Quarter Horse before this spring and now her first horse has won one of the biggest races of the year at Ajax Downs.
EC GREYS ANATOMY flew past favourites Eazy Street and One Kool Dynasty to win an exciting final of the $59,850 Picov Derby, the richest race for 3-year-old Quarter Horses Monday. Trained by Jason Pascoe of Pontypool, the grey gelding broke well from post nine under leading rider Ed Walton, chased the dueling favourites before closing with a rush to win by a head. Eazy Street, ridden by Tony Phillips, won the battle for place by a head over the filly One Kool Dynasty and jockey Helen Vanek.
Ec Greys Anatomy, an Oklahoma-bred by top sire Valiant Hero, ran the 400-yards in a quick 10.960 for a career best 97 speed index.
"I loved this horse today, I was telling my wife and my friends that came today," said Walton. "In the Trial he broke in a tangle and didn't get away good. Today we got away good and he dug in and found the wire."
The Picov Derby was Ec Greys Anatomy's fourth career win in 13 races and third win in five Ajax starts for Rosiak, whose silks, a yellow banana, were made by her grandmother. The gelding, who was racing for a $7,500 claiming price at Remington Park in Oklahoma when Rosiak bought him, earned $23,940 for the Derby victory.
"I'm overwhelmed by the win," said Rosiak, 33. "I feel so fortunate to have a great team, Jason and Ed, especially since I am brand new to this industry. We all love EC to bits and are very proud of him."
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Ralph Pearson's COUNTRYS COMIN BAC (
pictured, New Image Media photo) returned to top form with a 10 to 1 upset win in the $43,400 Ontario Bred Maturity for 4-year-olds and upward under 'Hurricane' Hel;en Vanek. Trained by Don Reid, Countrys Comin Bac broke sharply from post seven and chased multiple stakes winner Fiesty Icon before dashing away to a three-quarter length win.
It was the first stakes win for Countrys Comin Bac, a 7-year-old bred in Ontario by Marko Naterer. Ontario Racing Management Executive Director Jonathan Zammit and Quarter Horse program Coordinator Kathie Wilkinson made the presentation.
"I'm so excited,so happy," said Pearson, who has been racing and breeding Quarter Horses in Ontario since Picov Downs opened in the late 1960s. "It has been a long time since I have won a stakes race and this is one of the greatest days I have had in a long, long time."
Countrys Comin Bac earned $17,360 for his win and now has 13 wins in 40 races with career earnings over $208,000.
There is more stakes action next Monday, October 5 at Ajax Downs with the final of the $100,000 Alex Picov Memorial Futurity for 2-year-olds. First race post time is 12:55 p.m. Ajax Downs remains closed to fans but you can catch all the action at
www.ajaxdowns.com or watch and wager through the Woodbine platform
www.hpibet.com.
Follow Ajax Downs on social media @AjaxDowns, Twitter and Instagram, and on its Facebook page.
To find out how you can get involved in the exciting sport of Quarter Horse racing as an owner or syndicate member, contact the Quarter Racing Owners of Ontario, Inc. for opportunities for the 2021 racing season at
www.qrooi.com.
Video:Picov Derby won by Ec Greys Anatomy -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik9cIrjEjt4
Video: Ontario Bred Maturity won by Countrys Comin Bac -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnfv0b8w08c
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